How to Stay Safe in the Great Lakes This Season

The Great Lakes are no joke. In fact, Michigan has some of the deadliest lakes in America. Both Lake Michigan and Lake Eerie are very dangerous. While both are dangerous, Lake Erie is uniquely dangerous is because it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, so it can warm and cool faster than other lakes. That can cause dangerous waters and also a major annual algae bloom in the middle of the lake. So, you obviously have to stay safe when you're swimming in one of the Great Lakes. Here are some tips on how to stay safe in the Great Lakes this season.

Earlier this week, a 22-year-old Mackinac Island woman sadly died after she fell off her paddleboard into Lake Huron on the north side of the island. Now, the Mackinac Island Recreation Department and Mackinac Marine Rescue have released an announcement about water safety around Mackinac Island. Island officials want residents and vacationers to know that the Great Lakes can be very dangerous, and you should always wear a life jacket. "The Great Lakes have cold water that can make it hard to swim, even for strong swimmers," they said in a joint statement. "There are hidden hazards around the island. Dangerous currents and water conditions can be difficult to identify. Most drowning incidents happen when people are not wearing life jackets." They add that hypothermia can happen very suddenly and "faster than you would expect on a warm day."

Finally, the Mackinac Island Recreation Department and Mackinac Marine Rescue warn that surface water temperatures are very cold. Surface water temperatures around the island go from the high 30s in early May to the high 60s in late August. However, deeper water in the Straits of Mackinac hovers around 45 degrees during any season. "Given these averages, on a calm, sunny, non-windy day you would expect to be in the water for 10-15 minutes before you start to lose some of your mobility. Add wind, waves and cooler air temperatures your time drops quickly."

My Michigan Beach also has some simple tips to stay safe in the water this year. They say to, “Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill." Of course, always swim sober, too. I hope these tips help keep you safe this season. I'll definitely be following them.